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Planning Commission backs mayor—s process-improvement package after changes to notice and pop-out rules
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended the Mayor—s process-improvement ordinance with amendments: restore a 30-day notice standard, keep neighborhood notice for small rear-yard "pop-outs," require a commission policy for postcard/posting specifics before implementation, and add prevailing-wage and local building-code language to the 100% affordable streamlining. The commission voted to send the amended package to the Board of Supervisors.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on June 7 recommended approval of a package of planning-code "process improvements" proposed by the mayor—s office, but only after the commission amended several high-profile provisions to protect neighborhood notice and tenant interests.
Planning staff and the mayor—s Office of Economic and Workforce Development presented the ordinance as a set of administrative reforms aimed at speeding up approvals for routine projects and freeing staff time for major entitlements. Staff said the changes would standardize mailed and posted notices (moving toward a single postcard format and online materials), allow administrative approval of many 100% affordable housing projects, permit over-the-counter approvals for small historic-preservation items, and remove neighborhood notice for limited rear-yard "pop-out" additions.
The package drew large public turnout. Residents and tenant advocates said cutting notification and appeal opportunities would disadvantage renters, seniors and neighbors who lack easy internet access. Architects, builders and housing advocates urged streamlining to reduce delays and costs that they say block needed housing production.
After extensive debate the commission approved a motion that keeps many of the department—s proposed efficiency changes but modifies them in several ways: a 30-day standard notice period (instead of the staff draft of 20 days); removal of the staff proposal to eliminate neighborhood notice for the limited rear-yard pop-outs (those additions will continue to be noticed); and a requirement that the Planning Commission adopt a public commission policy spelling out postcard size, poster visibility and other implementation details before the notice provisions become effective. Commissioners also added explicit references that streamlined 100% affordable housing approvals must comply with the San Francisco Building Code and with prevailing-wage expectations for publicly funded housing.
"We want to speed up housing approvals, but not by cutting neighbors out of an accessible, transparent process," Commissioner Richards said. "The balanced approach adopted tonight preserves the time savings staff needs while maintaining public safeguards."
The commission—s recommendation will go to the Board of Supervisors. Staff told the commission the ordinance would not take effect until Jan. 1, 2019, giving agencies time to create the online notice tools and draft the commission policy members asked for.
The commission requested that staff return with a short implementation timeline and with a public process for shaping the postcard/posting templates before the notice provisions become active. The vote was recorded as the commission—s final recommendation; the measure will next be considered by supervisors.
